Florida counties see no green from red light cameras

The networks of traffic cameras installed in at least two Florida counties have failed to live up to promises that thousands of drivers would be caught running red lights and that cities would collect millions of dollars in fines, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Courts in Broward and Palm Beach counties have "stunned city officials with rulings that severely limit enforcement," the newspaper says. The result has been higher costs for lawyers and police to defend tickets and readjusted budgets as "reality overtakes their once rosy projections about fines," the paper says.

Issues include judges and hearing officers requiring photographic evidence that the car had not entered the intersection before the light turned red. And some tickets have been thrown out because officers did not have certified copies of vehicle registrations.

"The rulings have been going against us, and it's been very labor-intensive for our department," Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Frank Adderley told the Sun Sentinel.

State Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, and state Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-New Port Richey, want the camera program ended by July. Still, supporters of the cameras say the issues can be worked out.

Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper says she remains convinced that cameras will help improve traffic safety: "For me, it has always been a safety issue. Period."

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